Several AC executives have a home in Montreal. They are active in charitable causes and are featured in the media. Montreal has always had a robust legal office. Calin was a traveler, but his home was in Montreal. He was known for his running group on Mt.Royal.
Despite the attempt to exploit this for political reasons, the issue here is due in large part to Rousseau's bungling of the issue. PM Harper may not have been the best French speaker, but he managed it well, made an effort, and he was respected for it. That's what's upset some people - the lack of sincerity and smugness. Rousseau didn't make an effort.
The airline has much of the Quebec market and has growth plans for Quebec. This won't help. On the other hand, most people have turned off current events and pay no attention to the news so I will be surprised if much of the population has even heard of mike rousseau or knows what he does. He is more likely to be confused with a hockey player for a prairie farm team than an airline executive.

As an aside, because of this language distraction, coverage of the important comments on the growth and recovery plans were ignored. Some rather important policy/strategy changes were announced.